Dan Murphy Wins NY The Bass Federation Season Opener on Lake Champlain
OutdoorHub 06.16.14
New York The Bass Federation (NYTBF) kicked off the 2014 tournament season on Lake Champlain with launch and weigh-in out of Pt Au-Roche State Park. The pre-tournament reports were for another bed fishing event and to add to the mystery of the big lake Mother Nature added her touch. Three days preceding the event saw the area pelted with rain and thunder storms pushed through the area by SSE winds in excess of 20 mph resulting in a 20 degree swing in dropping air temperatures and a drop of 8 to 10 degrees for surface water temperatures.
The NYBCF anglers are quick studies and while several successfully pursued the bed fishing scene a few others ventured out to the first contour break adjacent to spawning flats in search of the post spawn females and they were rewarded with the winning limits and steady rod action throughout the day.
Boater Division
Dan Murphy took top honors with a limit of smallmouth weighing 19.75 lb. and he anchored that bag with the tournament lunker at 4.85 lb. The Keitech Pro Staffer reports fishing main lake points and shoals with a Keitech Swing Impact (3.8”) dressed on a lead head jig. Murphy says key to generating his bites was keeping the bait running along the very edge of the drop off or ledge. Murphy reports boating at least 35-40 fish during the day. When asked about the color Murphy smiled and replied, “I can’t tell you that right now because we have too many events up here the next few weeks”
Taking second place with a weight of 18.10 lb. was Keitech Pro Staffer Mike Czaplinski and he too reports targeting main lake shoals in search of the bigger post spawn females. Czaplinski reports suing the 2.8” Keitech Swing Impact Fat on a football head jig to catch his fish staying 12-14 ft. of water the entire day. Czaplinski also earned Ranger Cup bonus money as the highest finishing Ranger Boat owner.
Rounding out the top five were, Brian Winchell with 17.75 lbs. Rob Lamoy with 16.65 lbs. and Lee Didonato with 16.00 lbs.
Co-Angler Division
Plattsburg College Team Angler Ted Appelton took top honors with a weight of 17.00 lbs. Appleton reports fishing shallow with jerks baits for an early morning bite and then moving to off shore shoals targeting bigger fish with swimbaits. Appleton has finished second a couple of times and credits today’s win to his boater Dale Brown who kept him on fish all day long.
The other top finishers weren’t available for comment and rounding out the top five were Mike Stranahan at 16.85 lbs. Louis Gerrain with 15.80 lbs. Todd Stark with 15.75 lbs. and Kevin Grist with 12.45 lbs. and the co-angler lunker at 4.40 lbs.
TFO Rod Winner
At each tournament NYTBF holds a participants draw for a Temple Fork Outfitters rod and today’s lucky winner was Chris Heckard.
NYTBF Sponsors
Berkley, Chevy, Evinrude E-TEC, Humminbird, Ranger Boats, Solar Bat Sunglasses, FLW Outdoors, Lowrance, Minnkota, Temple Fork Outfitter (TFO) rods, The BASS University, Keitech, Sniper Lures, YUM, BOOYAH, DICK’S Sporting Goods, and STORMMR
For additional information on the NYTBF tournaments go to www.nytbf.com.
